The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errors of Papists, Arminians,…The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errours of Papists, Arminians,…

Fifthly, If a man may believe his sins are pardoned, before they be committed, and so before repented of, then he may have full joy and unspeakable boasting in God, while he lieth wallowing in the midst of sins. The reason of the consequence is this, By such an act of faith, we have peace with God, and we glory in him. This floweth, as a proper effect of faith, though it do not alway follow, yet it may follow, and happily it is our weakness, ⟨p. 251⟩if it do•• •ot. And if so, then it was Davids weakness to b• troubled about sin: It was for want of a right considering of the Covenant of Grace, that he had no joy in his heart, and that his bones were broken. The Adversary seeth the necessity of this consequent, and therefore is not afraid to say, That a justified person, even when sin is most prevalent, and the heart most hardened, yet then can glory in Jesus Christ, with a large heart, breaking forth into thanksgivings. Cornwall of Gospel-Repentance, pag. 125. How contrary is this to Davids experience, Psal. 32. who, while he humbled not himself for his sin, found nothing but terror and trouble in his own soul? And certainly this Doctrine must be very distasteful to •very gracious heart, which shall make faith and assurance in the glorious effects of it, amicably concording (as it were) with great and grievous sins. And let the Adversary show such an instance in all Scripture. For as for his example in Paul, Rom. 7. who found himself captivated unto sin, doing the things he would not, yet giving thanks to God through Jesus Christ: this is clean contrary to him, for Paul did greatly humble himself, and was deeply sensible of this tyranny of sin, which made him cry out, O miserable man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of sin. So that we cannot with any colour call him an hardened sinner, Somnium narrare vigilantis est, said Seneca; and to complain of sin, especially in the first motions and suggestions of it, as Paul did, argues a tender life of grace in him. No less absurd is it, to bring Habakkuk to patrocinate this great error, for although he said, He would rejoice in God, and glory in his salvation,